I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Wei-Jun Cai. 2003. Surface water DIC, total alkalinity, and pH for the March 2001 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER oceanographic survey. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set CHM-GCED-0303a; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=CHM-GCED-0303a) B. Accession Number: CHM-GCED-0303a C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Wei-Jun Cai Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: wcai@uga.edu 2. Abstract: Surface water samples for total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TAlk), and pH were collected from the Altamaha River, Doboy Sound, Sapelo River and the Duplin River (anchor station near Marsh Landing) during March 19-21, 2001. DIC was measured using a custom automated DIC analyzer. Total alkalinity was determined by Gran titration. pH of surface water at stations was measured on board using a glass electrode. This study was part of the GCE oceanographic monitoring program, and will be repeated periodically. 3. Study Type: Directed Study 4. Study Themes: Chemistry 5. LTER Core Areas: Inorganic Nutrients 6. Georeferences: geographic coordinates as data columns 7. Submission Date: Mar 12, 2003 D. Keywords: alkalinity, carbon dioxide, Cruise Nutrient Sampling, dissolved inorganic carbon, Inorganic Nutrients, ph, water column II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project 2. Principal Investigators: Name: James T. Hollibaugh Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: aquadoc@uga.edu 3. Funding Period: May 01, 2000 to May 01, 2006 4. Objectives: To investigate the linkages between coastal and distant upland areas in central Georgia mediated by surface and ground water delivery to the coastal zone. This will be addressed by examining the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity, and ecosystem processes and structure. 5. Abstract: We propose to establish a Long Term Ecological Research site on the central Georgia coast in the vicinity of Sapelo Island. This is a barrier island and marsh complex with the Altamaha River, one of the largest and least developed rivers on the east coast of the US, as the primary source of fresh water. The proposed study would investigate the linkages between local and distant upland areas mediated by water - surface water and ground water - delivery to the coastal zone. We would explicitly examine the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity because we can measure it at high frequency, and ecosystem processes and structure. We will accomplish this by comparing estuary/marsh complexes separated from the Altamaha River by one or two lagoonal estuary/marsh complexes that damp and attenuate the river signal. This spatial gradient is analogous to the temporal trend in riverine influence expected as a result of development in the watershed. We will implement a monitoring system that documents physical and biological variables and use the time trends and spatial distributions of these variables and of their variance structure to address questions about the factors controlling distributions, trophic structure, diversity, and biogeochemistry. An existing GIS-based hydrologic model will be modified to incorporate changes in river water resulting from changes in land use patterns that can be expected as the watershed develops. This model will be linked to ecosystem models and will serve as an heuristic and management tool. Another consequence of coastal development is that as river flow decreases, groundwater flow increases and becomes nutrified. We will compare the effects of ground water discharge from the surficial aquifer in relatively pristine (Sapelo Island) versus more urbanized (mainland) sites to assess the relative importance of fresh water versus nutrients to productivity, structure and biomass turnover rate in marshes influenced by groundwater. We will also investigate the effect of marine processes (tides, storm surge) on mixing across the fresh/salt interface in the surficial aquifer. Additional physical studies will relate the morphology of salt marsh - tidal creek channel complexes to tidal current distributions and exchange. These findings will be incorporated into a physical model that will be coupled to an existing ecosystem model. The land/ocean margin ecosystem lies at the interface between two ecosystems in which distinctly different groups of decomposers control organic matter degradation. The terrestrial ecosystem is largely dominated by fungal decomposers, while bacterial decomposers dominate the marine ecosystem. Both groups are important in salt marsh-dominated ecosystems. Specific studies will examine, at the level of individual cells and hyphae, the relationship bacteria and fungi in the consortia that decompose standing dead Spartina and other marsh plants and examine how, or if, this changes along the salinity gradient. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 9982133 B. Sub-project Description 1. Site Description a. Geographic Location: GCE-SP -- Sapelo River, Georgia, USA GCE-DB -- Doboy Sound, Georgia, USA GCE-AL -- Altamaha River, Georgia, USA GCE-DP -- Duplin River, Georgia, USA Coordinates: GCE-SP -- NW: 081 25 55.13 W, 31 33 34.66 N NE: 081 09 14.84 W, 31 33 34.66 N SE: 081 09 14.84 W, 31 30 59.89 N SW: 081 25 55.13 W, 31 30 59.89 N GCE-DB -- NW: 081 22 05.66 W, 31 27 20.39 N NE: 081 14 34.64 W, 31 27 20.39 N SE: 081 14 34.64 W, 31 20 27.39 N SW: 081 22 05.66 W, 31 20 27.39 N GCE-AL -- NW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 24 05.05 N NE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 24 05.05 N SE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 17 45.72 N SW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 17 45.72 N GCE-DP -- NW: 081 18 07.15 W, 31 29 11.37 N NE: 081 15 47.25 W, 31 29 11.37 N SE: 081 15 47.25 W, 31 24 39.08 N SW: 081 18 07.15 W, 31 24 39.08 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-SP -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE-DB -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE-AL -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE-DP -- Myxohaline tidal creek and marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-SP -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE-DB -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE-AL -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE-DP -- Intertidal marsh bordering tidal channels and creeks d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE-SP -- Site includes the Sapelo River and Sapelo Sound, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. Sapelo Sound is a lagunal estuary system, with minimal freshwater stream or river input. GCE-DB -- Site encompasses Doboy Sound and nearby tidal channels and creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. GCE-AL -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. GCE-DP -- Site includes the Duplin River and various smaller tidal creeks and channels e. Topographic Attributes: GCE-SP -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCE-DB -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCE-AL -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCE-DP -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-SP -- unspecified GCE-DB -- unspecified GCE-AL -- unspecified GCE-DP -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-SP -- unspecified GCE-DB -- unspecified GCE-AL -- unspecified GCE-DP -- unspecified h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: none recorded i. Climate: Climate summary for Sapelo Island, Georgia, based on NWS data from 1980-2010: Daily-aggregated Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) mean air temperature: 20.09°C (7.28°C) minimum air temperature: 15.02°C (7.96°C) maximum air temperature: 24.82°C (6.98°C) total precipitation: 3.26mm (10.3mm) Yearly-aggregated Daily Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) total precipitation (1980-2010): 1124mm (266mm) 2. Experimental or Sampling Design a. Design Characteristics: Surveys for each river or sound were conducted during high and/or low waters of the tide. Surface water was either pumped on board or collected through Niskin bottles for sampling. b. Permanent Plots: none c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: DIC and total alkalinity samples were taken in 125 ml acid-cleaned glass bottles, and 10 µl of saturated HgCl2 solution was added for preservation. The sampling bottles for DIC and TAlk were allowed to overflow for at least twice their volumes to allow minimal contact of water with the air. These samples were stored at 7°C until laboratory analysis within 1-3 weeks. pH samples were collected in a 50 ml plastic or glass syringe for immediate measurement. Beginning of Observations: Mar 19, 2001 End of Observations: Mar 21, 2001 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: DIC Analysis -- DIC was measured through an automated DIC analyzer developed by Cais group. The system was calibrated using certified reference material (CRM) from A. G. Dickson of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA. The system used small-volume (0.1-1.0 ml) samples, and had rapid (less than 5 minutes per analysis) measuring time with a precision of 0.1 – 0.15%. The system consisted of a non-dispersive infrared CO2 analyzer (Li-Cor 6252), a precision digital syringe pump, a gas flow controller, and a CO2 stripping reactor. The syringe pump was used to pump the sample (normally 0.5 ml) and acid (1 ml of 10% H3PO4) into the reactor. CO2 was released from acidified samples in the reactor and was subsequently measured by the infrared CO2 analyzer. Finally, DIC was calculated by integrating the area under the CO2 curve over time (< 2 mins) in the CO2 analyzer. The entire procedure was controlled by a computer. Method 2: Total Alkalinity Titration -- Total alkalinity (TAlk) was determined in a 50-ml sample by Gran titration (Gran, 1952) to an endpoint pH of 3.2 using HCl solution. The titrations were carried out by an automatic device using a Kloehn digital syringe and drive modules. The HCl standard solution was calibrated with CRM. The precision of the titration was 0.1-0.15%. The results reported in µmol/kg instead of µeq/kg, which one may read as µmol HCl used for titration of 1 kg of sample solution. Method 3: pH Measurement -- pH was measured at a constant temperature (25°C) using a flow cell and a Ross glass pH electrode. The calibration was conducted using standard buffer solutions (pH = 4, 7, 10) with NBS scale. The relative accuracy of pH measurement was 0.01 pH unit. b. Instrumentation: Method 1: Automated DIC Analyzer Parameter: Total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (Accuracy: 0.1-0.15%, Range: 100 to 10000 µmol/kg) Protocol: The system is calibrated before and after each measurement using certified reference material (CRM) from A. G. Dickson of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA. Method 2: pH Electrode Manufacturer: Orion Research, Inc. (Model: 8103) Parameter: pH (Accuracy: 0.01 pH unit, Readability: 0.001 pH unit, Range: 0 to 14 pH units) Protocol: Meter is calibrated before and after each measurement. Method 3: pH Electrode Manufacturer: Orion Research, Inc. (Model: 8103) Parameter: pH (Accuracy: 0.01 pH unit, Readability: 0.001 pH unit, Range: 0 to 14 pH units) Protocol: Meter is calibrated before and after each measurement. c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable d. Permit History: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Wei-Jun Cai 2: Yongchen Wang 3: Zhaohui Wang b. Affiliations: 1: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 2: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 3: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 20-Jun-2013 2. Latest Archive Date: 18-Nov-2011 3. Latest Metadata Update: 20-Jun-2013 4. Data Verification Status: Reviewed by GCE-LTER IM B. Accessibility 1. Storage Location and Medium: Stored at GCE-LTER Data Management Office Dept. of Marine Sciences Univ. of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3636 USA on media: electronic data download (WWW) or compact disk 2. Contact Person: Name: Wade M. Sheldon, Jr. Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: sheldon@uga.edu 3. Copyright Restrictions: not copyrighted 4. Restrictions: All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office. a. Release Date: Affiliates: Mar 12, 2003, Public: Mar 12, 2005 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 9982133 (data set CHM-GCED-0303a) c. Disclaimer: The user assumes all responsibility for errors in judgement based on interpretation of data and analyses presented in this data set. 5. Costs: free electronic data download via WWW, distribution on CD may be subject to nominal processing and handling fee IV. Data Structural Descriptors A. Data Set File 1. File Name: CHM-GCED-0303a_2_0.CSV 2. Size: 42 records 3. File Format: ASCII text (comma-separated value format) 3a. Delimiters: single comma 4. Header Information: 5 lines of ASCII text 5. Alphanumeric Attributes: Mixed case 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: I = invalid value (out of range), Q = questionable value 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.6.0 (05-Jun-2013) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: CHM-GCED-0303a.TXT (42 records) Data processing history: 18-Mar-2003: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 18-Mar-2003: 42 rows imported from ASCII data file 'CHM-GCED-0303a.TXT' ('imp_ascii') 18-Mar-2003: 10 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 18-Mar-2003: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 18-Mar-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Mar-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Mar-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 08-Nov-2005: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 08-Nov-2005: updated 66 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 20-Jun-2013: converted dates in column(s) Date to format yyyy-mm-dd 20-Jun-2013: flags for columns DIC_Conc, Alkalinity_Tot and pH converted to data columns, flag codes updated in metadata ('flags2cols') 20-Jun-2013: updated 6 metadata fields in the Data sections ('addmeta') 20-Jun-2013: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 20-Jun-2013: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Date column 2. Time column 3. Transect column 4. Survey_Type column 5. Longitude column 6. Latitude column 7. DIC_Conc column 8. Flag_DIC_Conc column 9. Alkalinity_Tot column 10. Flag_Alkalinity_Tot column 11. pH column 12. Flag_pH 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Date column 2. Time of day column 3. Transect code column 4. Type of survey (high water survey, low water survey, anchor station) column 5. Geographic longitude column 6. Geographic latitude column 7. Concentration of total dissolved inorganic carbon column 8. QA/QC flags for Concentration of total dissolved inorganic carbon (flagging criteria, where "x" is DIC_Conc: x<0.1="I", x>3000="I", x<100="Q") column 9. Total alkalinity column 10. QA/QC flags for Total alkalinity (flagging criteria, where "x" is Alkalinity_Tot: x<0.1="I", x>3000="I", x<100="Q") column 11. pH column 12. QA/QC flags for pH (flagging criteria, where "x" is pH: x<0.003="I", x>10="I", x<4="Q") 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. yyyy-mm-dd column 2. hh:mm column 3. none column 4. none column 5. degrees column 6. degrees column 7. µmol/kg column 8. none column 9. µmol/kg column 10. none column 11. none column 12. none 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. alphanumeric column 2. alphanumeric column 3. alphanumeric column 4. alphanumeric column 5. floating-point column 6. floating-point column 7. floating-point column 8. alphanumeric column 9. floating-point column 10. alphanumeric column 11. floating-point column 12. alphanumeric b. Variable Codes: c. Numeric Range: column 1. (none) column 2. (none) column 3. (none) column 4. (none) column 5. -81.4433 to -81.2203 column 6. 31.3086 to 32.0522 column 7. 379.4 to 2122.2 column 8. (none) column 9. 298.5 to 2276.5 column 10. (none) column 11. 6.548 to 7.997 column 12. (none) d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. text column 2. text column 3. text column 4. text column 5. numerical column 6. numerical column 7. numerical column 8. text column 9. numerical column 10. text column 11. numerical column 12. text b. Number of Columns: 12 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 0 column 4. 0 column 5. 4 column 6. 4 column 7. 1 column 8. 0 column 9. 1 column 10. 0 column 11. 3 column 12. 0 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. datetime (none) column 2. datetime (none) column 3. coded value (none) column 4. coded value (none) column 5. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 6. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 7. data (continuous) column 8. coded value (none) column 9. data (continuous) column 10. coded value (none) column 11. data (continuous) column 12. coded value (none) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. none column 2. none column 3. none column 4. none column 5. x<-180="I", x>180="I", x<-82="Q", x>-81="Q" column 6. x<-90="I", x>90="I", x<31="Q", x>32.5="Q" column 7. x<0.1="I", x>3000="I", x<100="Q" column 8. none column 9. x<0.1="I", x>3000="I", x<100="Q" column 10. none column 11. x<0.003="I", x>10="I", x<4="Q" column 12. none C. Data Anomalies: None noted V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: Original sample logs and data forms stored in the laboratory of Wei-Jun Cai. Copies of cruise logs and CTD cast data are archived in the GCE-LTER Information Management Office. 2. Form Location: Wei-Jun Cai, Dept. of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3636, USA 3. Data Entry Validation: The entry data were validated by Dr. Yongchen Wang before any reporting. B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: QA/QC flags are generated automatically according to domain criteria specified for each data column. A flag column is generated and appended to the data table if any flags are assigned to any value, listing the flags for each column on each row. C. Supplemental Materials: Water samples were stored in a refrigirator before analyses. Samples were dumped after data validation. D. Computer Programs: Microsoft Excel(R) XP, Microsoft Access(R) XP E. Archival Practices: Data sets and documentation are stored in structured binary (Matlab 5.x files) and delimited ASCII text formats, and archived on magnetic tape and CD at the GCE LTER Information Management Office at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA. F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: none 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none